A vehicle registration plate (number plate) is not just a combination of numbers and letters on a white plate. It’s the key to a whole range of information, whether you need to find out if a car has a valid insurance policy or who owns it. In this article, we’ll show you how to do it – legally, quickly and efficiently.
Getting information about a car by license plate number can be useful in a number of situations. The most common scenario is an accident or damage to a parked vehicle. If the driver drives off and leaves no contact, the question arises as to how to find out the owner of the vehicle. Or another situation may arise: you are buying a used car and want to check that the details given by the seller match. In either case, checking the vehicle against the registration number can be a crucial step.
Many people are also interested in finding out how to check insurance by license plate number. Fortunately, there is an answer, and you’ll find it in this article. In addition, you can use the license plate search to find out basic information about the vehicle, such as model, type, engine capacity or color.
Beware. Although it may seem that the owner of a car by license plate number is easy to trace, the reality is more complicated. Due to privacy concerns, this information is protected and not available to everyone. Still, there are ways – whether through the vehicle registration by license plate, CTKP or through a solicitor.
Short answer? Yes, but not for everyone and not just any way. If you want to find out who the owner of a vehicle is by number plate, unfortunately the law won’t let you access the information just out of curiosity. Data protection under the GDPR is uncompromising in this regard.
The exception is if you have a legal reason – for example, in the event of an accident or legal dispute. Then you can make a request to the vehicle registration by number plate, ideally through a solicitor. It is also possible to cooperate with the police, who have access to this data as part of an investigation.
If you want to know how to find out the owner of a vehicle in a common situation (e.g. a parked car blocking the entrance), the only legal route is through the municipal police or the administrative office. They can find out who the owner of the car is by the number plate, but will not tell you themselves – they can, however, ask the owner to make amends.
If you come across a service that promises the owner by number plate for a fee, beware – it is often a scam or an illegal offer. Finding out the owner by number plate is strictly limited by law in the Czech Republic.
Many people believe that if they know the number plate of a vehicle, they can easily find out who owns it. But how do you find out the owner of a car by the number plate when the details are not freely available? The number plate itself is primarily used to identify the vehicle, not the individual. It is registered in the vehicle register, but access to the owner’s details is limited.
Unlike a VIN (which can be freely verified via Cebia or CarVertical, for example), a number plate will not give you detailed information on roadworthiness, accidents or mileage, at least not unless you use a paid service or have a legal reason to consult the register.
However, a basic license plate check can reveal the validity of a technical inspection, the existence of insurance, or even a history of changes of ownership – provided you use the right tools. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between what can be found out (e.g. insurance verification by number plate) and what is protected by law (the name and address of the owner).
If you know the registration number of your vehicle, you can use various tools to find out much more than just insurance. Today, vehicle verification by license plate number includes information such as the number of previous owners, accidents, mileage trends or even foreclosures.
For these purposes, you can use the aforementioned Cebia or CarVertical services, for example.
All of these tools work on the basis of a license plate or VIN code search. Ideally, combine both – while the number plate will allow you to check insurance and basic technical data, the VIN will reveal your full service history.
When buying a used car or suspecting fraud, checking the number plate becomes an indispensable step. Especially if you want to make sure the car hasn’t been wrecked, isn’t encumbered by a lien or is a leased vehicle.
Tip: Are you planning to buy a vehicle that you will also use for business? One of the most important decisions will be whether or not to put the car into business assets. Read on to find out what will pay off the most for you.
One of the most common questions is how to find out if a car is insured. The most effective way is to use the web interface of the Czech Insurance Office ( CIA), specifically their “License Plate Search” service. Here, you simply enter the vehicle’s registration number, VIN code and the date you want to check the insurance status.
On the ČKP website, you can find out in a few seconds whether the car is insured and with which insurance company. This license plate number insurance check is free and available to anyone. While the output will not show the name of the owner of the vehicle by license plate number, it will provide you with the name of the insurance company and the policy number, which is crucial when dealing with claims.
If you can’t find the vehicle in the system, it may mean that it is not insured or that the details have not been entered correctly into the system. If this is the case, it is a good idea to contact the police, especially if it is a road traffic accident.
The public register of vehicles by number plate is managed by the Ministry of Transport and allows you to check basic technical information about a vehicle. What it cannot do, however, is share personal data, so that the owner of a vehicle by number plate remains inaccessible to the public.
But what can be done? Through the web application, you can find out the date of first registration of the vehicle, last known roadworthiness test, emissions, odometer reading, vehicle type, engine capacity and colour.
Only public authorities – police, courts, bailiffs– have access to more detailed data (e.g. owners’ names). Some functions may require login or identity verification.
The number plate register is therefore not a tool for routine “snooping”, but it will help you to verify the technical condition. In combination with the VIN code, you can map the entire history of the car without knowing the name of the owner. The registry is a great starting point for searching for license plates and checking the car by license plate number.
Tip: If you find that your MOT has expired, it’s not just a technicality. From the first minute you drive a vehicle that the law deems unroadworthy, you risk a fine and a driving ban. Read on to find out how to resolve an expired MOT.
Have you come across a vehicle that has been parked for a long time without moving, looks abandoned or is preventing you from entering your property? Identifying the owner by license plate number may seem like the ideal solution in this case. But how do you find out the owner of a car by license plate number when you don’t have the authority to access the registry?
The first step is to contact the municipal police. The latter has the authority to identify the owner of the vehicle by the number plate and can ask them to remove the car. If it is a wreck or a vehicle without a valid MOT or insurance, administrative proceedings may be initiated.
Another option is to lodge a complaint with the municipality with extended jurisdiction. The latter may impose a fine on the owner or remove the car at the owner’s expense. In some cases, you will need to provide a legal reason (for example, the title deed to the land) for your request to be considered justified.
However, you should be aware that no one can tell you the owner directly by the number plate – but the authorities can take action to remove the vehicle or contact the owner.
Finding out information about a vehicle by license plate number can be crucial in a variety of situations – from a car accident to buying a used car to a parked car blocking an entrance. While the vehicle registration plate alone won’t reveal the owner’s name (due to GDPR), it will allow a number of other details to be legally verified. Through the Czech Insurers’ Bureau website, you can quickly and free of charge find out whether the car has a valid compulsory liability insurance and with which insurance company. Verification of technical parameters, emissions, MOT or basic history of the car is possible via the vehicle register of the Ministry of Transport – but the name of the owner remains private. If you have a legal reason, such as damage caused by someone else’s vehicle, you can request the data through a solicitor or in cooperation with the police. Paid services such as Cebia or CarVertical can be used to analyse a car’s history in more depth, including accidents, number of previous owners or repossessions, ideally in combination with a VIN code. If you come across a vehicle that is in your way or looks suspicious, you can contact the municipal police or the municipality, who have the authority to contact the owner or initiate action to remove the vehicle. It is important to use only legal and official routes – offers to ‘find the owner for a fee’ are often illegal and potentially risky.
The fastest way is via the Czech Insurance Office website (ckp.cz). You enter the registration mark and date – within a few seconds you know whether the vehicle is insured and with which insurance company. This tool is free and publicly available.
The name of the owner of the vehicle cannot be legally established by the number plate without a legitimate reason (e.g. accident, legal dispute). Only the Police of the Czech Republic, the courts or the municipal police have access to the owner’s details when dealing with offences.
Report the incident to the police. The police can trace the owner of the vehicle by number plate and contact his insurance company. You can use the ČKP website to check who the offender is insured with and claim directly.
You can find out basic information about technical inspections or emissions via the Vehicle Register, while detailed history is available from paid services such as Cebia or CarVertical. The best results are obtained by combining the number plate and VIN code.
There is no one-size-fits-all registry. Use the CKP to check insurance, commercial databases for vehicle history and use the Citizen’s Portal or contact the relevant vehicle registry to access government records.
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Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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